The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruled on Thursday that a French law criminalising clients of sex workers did not violate the Convention on Human Rights, sparking a debate on sex work regulations in Europe. The ruling came after a petition from 261 sex workers challenging the 2016 French law, which fines sex buyers up to €1,500. Opponents of prostitution welcomed the decision as a victory, but rights group Amnesty International criticized it for failing to protect sex workers from abuse and violence. The petitioners argued that the law forced sex workers into hiding, making them more vulnerable to harm.
Amnesty International’s Women’s Rights Researcher, Anna Błuś, expressed concern that criminalizing sex work increases discrimination and violence against sex workers, leading to obstacles in accessing essential services like healthcare. With the upcoming Olympic Games in France, authorities fear a potential rise in prostitution and are taking measures to raise awareness.
The ruling highlights the ongoing debate in Europe on how to approach sex work. While Belgium recently decriminalized sex work, countries like the Netherlands, Germany, and Austria have legalized it in some form. Meanwhile, France and Sweden criminalize buying sex but not selling, with the goal of abolishing sex work. International organizations like the WHO and UNFPA, as well as human rights groups, oppose criminalizing the purchase of sex, arguing that it endangers the safety and rights of sex workers.
Source
Photo credit www.euronews.com
